Public to FCC: We Don't Want More Media Consolidation

For Immediate Release

Public to FCC: We Don't Want More Media Consolidation

WASHINGTON - On Thursday, Free Press delivered a petition with more than 30,000 signatures to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski urging him to make the public, jobs, and journalism the top priorities in the agency's imminent review of media ownership rules. The petition urges Genachowski to abandon reported plans to eliminate cross-media ownership protections, to address disparities in ownership by women and people of color, and to strengthen its rules to prevent so-called covert consolidation.

“People all over the country are asking the FCC to put the public interest ahead of corporate interests. They want diverse and competitive local media. They’ve seen how media consolidation adversely impacts the news and information they get from local broadcasters and local newspapers.

“Unfortunately, in the past the FCC has often bowed to industry pressure to relax media ownership protections. Now we need Chairman Genachowski to remedy — not repeat — the mistakes of previous administrations. The public, Congress and the courts have all rejected more media consolidation, and it’s time for the agency to strengthen its rules to promote competition and diversity in the media.”

###

Free Press is a national, nonpartisan organization working to reform the media. Through education, organizing and advocacy, we promote diverse and independent media ownership, strong public media, and universal access to communications. Learn more at www.freepress.net

Further

In the face of increasingly catastrophic climate news - rising sea levels, wildfires, drought - a team of Russian photographers with the non-profit AirPano have taken to the air in helicopters, airplanes, dirigibles and hot air balloons to offer virtual and panoramic tours of the planet's most stunning locations, urban to wilderness, to remind us what's at stake. Take note.